Band bringing back old-fashioned concerts

July 12, 2012

By

Amy Cherry

Photo submitted â€“ The Elk-Cameron Community Band is shown during one of their summer performances.

ST. MARYS â€“ The days of old-fashioned concerts in the park are being revived, as the Elk-Cameron Community Band plans to host two events in local parks in July.
Area residents are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and enjoy an array of musical numbers, lemonade and cookies.
Each concert begins at 7 p.m. The first will be held Tuesday, July 17 at Memorial Park on Wolfel Avenue in St. Marys and the second will take place the following evening, Wednesday, July 18 at the Fox Township Community Park situated along SR 948. In case of rain, the St. Marys concert will be moved to the S. St. Marys Street Elementary School and the Kersey concert moved to the Fox Twp. Senior Center.
The concert band is co-directed by Ed Schwer, a longtime music teacher at St. Marys Area Middle School, along with Dan Sensening, a 12-year music teacher at Cameron County High School.
"It will be a fun, enjoyable evening of music, which is something unique nowadays," Schwer said.
The one-hour, 10-minute will feature pieces from all types of musical genres, including Sousa marches, an Elvis Presley medley, and various overtures by contemporary concert band composers, including "Encanto" by Robert W. Smith. Other pieces will feature a medley from the Disney movie "Enchanted", "In the Mood" by Glen Miller, a Spanish concert march and an Armed Forces medley.
In the past, the band has performed Beatles and "Grease" medleys, popular songs from Broadway and Disney and Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man."
According to Schwer, the band had the idea to host the old-fashioned concerts based on the group's past participation in the Picnic in the Park event.
This summer the band has participated in six concerts, including those held at the Guy and Mary Felt Manor in Emporium, at Silver Creek Terrace and Pinecrest Manor in St. Marys, and at Weekend in the Wilds in Emporium.
"We always make sure to provide some sort of community service to our elderly residents," Schwer said.
They have also performed as part of the Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA) Summer Concert Series.

Pick up a copy of the Friday, July 13, 2012 edition of The Ridgway Record for more.